Greg Blue, project manager with applicant SunPower Corp., said the company will now concentrate on fulfilling 148 conditions the county is requiring before construction can begin by the end of August. Conditions are steps the company must take to lessen the environmental impacts of the project. Many of the conditions were suggested through extensive public input over the past several years that has improved the project, Blue said.

SunPower recently received a $1.2 billion loan guarantee from the Bank of Scotland that will finance construction costs. Construction is expected to take three years, and the plant will supply enough power for some 100,000 homes.